Quick coupling arrangement for excavator buckets and the like

Abstract

A quick coupling apparatus for detachably securing an implement such as a bucket, air or hydraulic hammer, tamper or any other attachment to a vehicle having a lifting and tilting mechanism such as an excavator. The apparatus includes a pair of hinge plates secured to the implement and two associated link assemblies adapted for mounting on the lifting and tilting mechanism of the vehicle and which engage and disengage the hinge plates to detachably secure the implement to the vehicle.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A quick-coupling apparatus for detachably securing an implement to actuating arms of an associated vehicle; said apparatus including a pair of hinge plates adapted to be secured on said implement and a pair of associated link assemblies adapted to be secured to said actuating arms and for detachable connection to said hinge plates; said link assemblies each including front and rear rollers and pin assembly means extending between and through said link assemblies and arranging said link assemblies in parallel, side-by-side relation;   front and rear receptacles on said hinge plates for the reception of the rollers on said link assemblies, said front receptacles opening toward the rear receptacles;   stop blocks on said hinge plates located adjacent said front receptacles;   arms on said link assemblies extending outwardly from the ends thereof; and   means for releasably locking said link assemblies into said hinge plates;   said rear receptacles being so contoured that, when the rear rollers on the link assemblies are directed therein by said vehicle actuating arms, the front rollers on said link assemblies are moved to engage the front receptacles on said hinge plates, the arms extending from one end of the link assemblies engaging said stop blocks and the arms on the other ends of the link assemblies being engaged by said locking means.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including transversely aligned apertures in said hinge plates adjacent the ends thereof incorporating said rear receptacles; and wherein said releasable locking means comprises a locking bar for extension through said hinge plate apertures subsequent to engagement of said link assemblies with said hinge plates and adapted to engage said link assembly arms adjacent said rear receptacles for securing said link assemblies in the hinge plates; and means for securing said locking bar in engagement with said link assemblies.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said locking bar securing means comprises forcing screws located in said hinge plates to apply securing pressure on said locking bar and said link assembly arms thereby applying a seating force to said rollers on said link assemblies in the contoured rear receptacles and thereby pre-loading pressure of the link assembly arms against said stop blocks. 
     
     
       4. A quick-coupling apparatus for detachably securing an implement to actuating arms of an associated vehicle; said apparatus including a pair of hinge plates adapted to be secured on said implement and a pair of associated link assemblies adapted to be secured to said actuating arms and for detachable connection to said hinge plates; said link assemblies each including front and rear rollers and pin assembly means extending between and through said link assemblies and arranging said link assemblies in parallel side-by-side relation;   front and rear receptacles on said hinge plates for the reception of the rollers on said link assemblies, said front receptacles opening in a direction toward said rear receptacles;   stop blocks on said hinge plates located adjacent said front receptacles;   means for releasably locking said link assemblies into said hinge plates;   said link assemblies including arms extending outwardly from the ends thereof; the arms on one end of said link assemblies being engaged by said stop blocks adjacent the front receptacles and the arms on the other ends of the link assemblies being engaged by said releasable locking means;   said rear receptacles being so contoured that, when the rear rollers on the link assemblies are directed therein by said vehicle actuating arms, the front rollers on said link assemblies are moved to engage the front receptacles on said hinge plates; and   means effecting a pre-load on said link assemblies on the hinge plates subsequent to seating said rollers in said receptacles.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pre-load effecting means comprises forcing screws located in said hinge plates to apply pressure on said releasable locking means and said link assembly arms thereby applying a seating force to said link assembly rollers in the front and rear receptacles and thereby pre-loading pressure of the arms against the stop blocks. 
     
     
       6. A quick-coupling apparatus for detachably securing an implement to actuating arms of an associated vehicle; said apparatus including a pair of hinge plates adapted to be secured on said implement and a pair of associated link assemblies adapted to be secured to said actuating arms and for detachable connection to said hinge plates; said link assemblies each including front and rear rollers and pin assembly means extending between and through said link assemblies and arranging said link assemblies in parallel side-by-side relation;   front and rear receptacles on said hinge plates for the reception of the rollers on said link assemblies, said front receptacles facing rearwardly toward said rear receptacles;   said rear receptacles being so contoured that, when the rear rollers on the link assemblies are directed therein by said vehicle actuating arms, the front rollers on said link assemblies are moved to engage the front receptacles on said hinge plates;   stop blocks on said hinge plates located adjacent said front receptacles;   said link assemblies including arms extending forwardly and rearwardly of said front and rear rollers respectively, the forward arms engaging said stop blocks;   means for releasably locking said link assemblies into said hinge plates comprising aligned apertures in said hinge plates adjacent the ends thereof which incorporates said rear receptacles; a locking bar adapted to extend through said apertures and engage said rearwardly extending arms following engagement of said link assemblies with said hinge plates; and   means on said hinge plates to apply seating pressure on said rearward arms of said link assemblies into said rear receptacles and thereby effect a preload of the assemblies into said front and rear receptacles, and means for locking said assemblies in the pre-loaded position.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said pressure applying means on said hinge plates comprises forcing screws located in said hinge plates to apply pressure on said locking bar and said link assembly arms thereby applying a seating force to said rear rollers on said link assemblies in the contoured rear receptacles to thereby pre-load pressure of the forwardly extending link assembly arms against the stop blocks.